A Right Royal Mix-up

OK, 'ere we go – numero siete. Complete with a little L/J action…

Disclaimer – it's not mine, alright?

Chapter 7

                Remus followed James into a panelled den and poured him a drink from the bar instead of ringing for a servant.

            "You carried everything off very well tonight," he remarked.

            James raised a dark eyebrow. "Did I have a choice? Gabrielle did suggest that I reason with my father. I couldn't decide whether she was being typically unrealistic, or if she said it to taunt me."

            "I thought she was quite charming this evening," Remus protested.

            "Yes, and it made me wary. That's not the Gabrielle I know and… well, know. I kept bracing myself for some kind of scene."

            "You haven't seen her in a long time. People change."

            "Maybe." James's tone revealed his scepticism.

            "She's gotten even more beautiful," Remus persisted. "You'll have to admit that."

            James's expression became wholly male. "A man would have to be dead not to appreciate a face and figure like that." He stuck his hands in his pockets and paced the floor restlessly. "My father could be right about me – I have a weakness for beautiful women. How else can I explain the fact that I'm turned on by a woman I don't even like?"

            "You never knew Gabrielle more than superficially. She certainly seems to be handling the situation in a mature manner. I was very impressed by her tonight."

            "By her, or by her friend Ariadne?" James joked. "You seemed quite attracted to her."

            "She's different from any girl I've ever met," Remus admitted. "More fun and less impressed with herself. Perhaps she's responsible for the change in Gabrielle."

            "Whatever the reason, I hope it lasts."

Ariadne was waiting in Lily's room to discuss the evening. "Wasn't it a fabulous party? I never saw so many gorgeous men! Of course you got the pick of the pack, but I'd be happy to settle for James's man Friday. I love that boyish type, even though it's deceiving in his case. Remus must be as sophisticated as the prince."

            "He's awfully nice," Lily agreed.

            Ariadne prattled on about the party without noticing that Lily was saying very little. Finally she became aware of it. "I guess you're tired – and no wonder! It must have been a strain in the beginning, wondering if you could pass for Gabrielle, especially with James. But he seemed to accept you. He was very austere, though. I guess that was because the king and all the dignitaries were there. According to everything I've read, he's certainly not that way normally."

            "James wasn't just on his good behaviour tonight." Lily told her what she'd discovered early in the evening. "I wish I'd never let myself be talked into this charade. If it weren't for me, there wouldn't be any engagement tomorrow. James would never forgive me if he knew I could have prevented his marriage."

            "I'm not so sure you could have. Monarchies are riddled with politics, the same as democracies. They have spin-doctors and Obliviators who take over in a crisis and do damage control. King Claude would simply have postponed the engagement."

            "For what reason?"

            "He'd have found one. It might not have been totally believable, and the king and his crew would have lost a lot of credibility – something they're very touchy about. But you can bet they wouldn't have called off the wedding. It's too important to both countries."

            "That's reprehensible, but I'd feel a lot better if I thought you were right," Lily said uncertainly.

            "I know I am, so stop blaming yourself. You're only pinch-hitting at the engagement. Something could happen to get them off the hook between now and the wedding date." Ariadne grinned suddenly. "Which brings up an interesting question. If Gabrielle continues to be a no-show, do you think they'd ask you to take her place at the altar? And if they did, which one of you would actually be married to the prince?"

            "Even if this were my country, which it isn't, that would be above and beyond the call of duty," Lily answered dryly.

            You'd certainly have a memorable wedding night. He's a really virile man. I'll bet he's gorgeous in the nude."

            Having been closer than Ariadne to his hard body, Lily didn't doubt it in the least. She remembered his arm around her waist, jerking her against his long length. It had been only an angry gesture, but that didn't lessen his potent attraction.

"It wouldn't be ethical to find out, but it's fun to think about." Ariadne laughed.

            "Nothing about this situation is fun. How would you like to be forced on a man who loathed you?" Lily asked.

            "It's nothing personal. He'd probably be crazy about you if you met under different circumstances."

            "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Lily sighed. "I'm going to wash off all this makeup and go to bed."

            Ariadne tilted her head to stare at her critically. "I'm getting kind of used to you like this. You look like a celebrity. If they teach you how to apply that makeup yourself, you could mingle with the jet set."

            "I'd still be me under all the goop," Lily answered, yawning. "I might look like Gabrielle, but I can't keep her hours. I'm going to sleep."

            As the time for the festivities drew near the next day, Lily was surrounded by people. While her elaborate makeup was being duplicated and her hair restyled, Celeste brought out the dress Lily would wear that afternoon.

            It was downright chaste compared to last night's gown. The lavender two-piece dress has short sleeves and a scooped neckline that would skim her collarbones. The skirt was short, with a scalloped hem to match that of the over-blouse.

            "Your gown for the ball tonight is in the closet," Celeste told her. "I showed your maid where the circlet is sewn on to the train. Be sure to loop it over your wrist when you dance," she said as she followed the others out of the door.

            Lily's eyebrows rose. "A train? I only hope I don't trip over it," she remarked to Robert who had remained to give her last-minute instructions regarding the private ceremony.

            "You'll do fine," he assured her. "Look how well you managed last night. Nobody suspected a thing."

            "Something puzzles me," she said. "Last night was successful, but how do you expect to keep this deception a secret when so many outsiders know about it? Like Jeanne and Alphonse and Celeste. Any one of them could make a fortune selling the story to the tabloids."

            "They won't," he answered confidently. "Yes, they'd make a tidy sum, but they would lose more than they gained. Jeanne and Alphonse profit greatly from being official beauticians to the princess. The same is true for Celeste in her line of work. Customers flock to her shop so they can say they buy their clothes where the princess does. Without Gabrielle's patronage all of them would be just ordinary small-business people. It was necessary to enlist their services, but I can assure you we took no risk."

            "That's comforting."

            "All you have to concern yourself with is the ceremony this afternoon. You won't have to say much. The people just want to see you and the prince together. You'll both stand next to the king on the balcony. After he makes a little speech announcing the engagement, you'll say a few words about how happy you are. Then James will say something similar.

            "I hope he can make it sound convincing. I don't know if you're aware of it, but Prince James isn't any keener on this union than Gabrielle is."

            Robert's face became expressionless. "It would be unseemly of me to pry into the personal lives of the prince and princess."

            "You don't have to pry. I'm telling you they don't even like each other."

            "I am sure you got the wrong impression." Before giving her a chance to deny it, Robert took two dark blue velvet boxes out of his briefcase. "This is the jewellery you will wear today." The square box held a necklace of large pearls with a diamond clasp. Inside the long box was a three strand pearl bracelet with a matching clasp.

            "They're beautiful," Lily murmured, touching them gently.

            "They are suitable for daytime attire. This evening I will bring you the jewels you will wear to the ball. Do you have any questions?"

            "What's the procedure after the engagement is official?"

            "King Claude will invite everyone to have refreshments and stroll around the grounds. Then the three of you will proceed down to the south garden for a reception line. People will come up to offer their good wishes, much like last night only on a more extensive scale. I hope your shoes are comfortable." Robert smiled.

            "I do, too."

            He looked at his watch. "If everything is clear, I have a meeting with Henri."

            After Robert left, Lily started toward the bedroom. When there was a knock on the door she thought it was the maid coming to help her dress.

            "Come in," she called.

            Lily turned, but instead of the maid there stood Prince James. "I was expecting the maid. What are you doing here?" she asked brusquely.

            "I came to bring you this." He held out a small square jeweller's box. "I thought it would be better if I gave it to you without an audience. It's your engagement ring."

            Her eyes widened after she opened the box. Inside was a very large square-cut diamond set in a frame of sapphires. They sparkled like satellites surrounding a blazing sun. "It's gorgeous!" she gasped.

            "I'm glad you like it," he said politely.

            "Who wouldn't? I've never seen anything this magnificent!"

            James gave her a puzzled look. "You have a lot of beautiful jewellery."

            "Oh… well, yes, but an engagement ring is different."

            He continued to stare at her. "I don't understand this act you're putting on, Gabrielle. Did your father promise you something if you behaved? Is that it?"

            "I don't know what you want," she answered impatiently. "I told you to stand up to your father and you said it was impossible. That means you're stuck with me. Would it make you feel better if I threw tantrums and made life miserable for everybody?"

            "No, of course not. But I can't understand your calm acceptance of a situation that must be as galling to you as it is to me."

            She shrugged. "When there's no alternative, you make the best of things."

            "Does that mean you want to make ours a real marriage?" he asked slowly.

            Any woman in her right mind would want that. But Gabrielle wasn't known for her common sense. If Lily led James to think his wife would be willing to meet him halfway, what would happen when Gabrielle returned, as difficult and rebellious as ever?

            While Lily hesitated, searching for a safe answer to his question, James's lip curled sardonically. "I thought not. You have some secret agenda you're not telling me about. Daddy must have dug down deep to turn a spoiled hellion into a reasonable human being."

            "Are you this suspicious of everyone, or just of me?" she asked in annoyance. "I don't know if this marriage will work out, but if it doesn't, at least half the blame will be yours."

            "How can it work when a major ingredient is missing?" he demanded.

            "We could learn to trust each other in time."

            "I was referring to love," he said curtly. "The main purpose of our marriage is to produce an heir. That's something that happens naturally with other couples. In our case it's a duty."

            "Are you telling me you'd find it difficult to make love to me?" Lily asked indignantly.

            His gaze transferred to her body, as though he could see under the thin robe she was wearing. "You're a very beautiful woman. No man would consider it a hardship to have sex with you."

            "Thanks for nothing!" she said angrily.

            He shrugged. "You asked a question and I answered it. We might make each other's lives a living hell, but I don't think we'll have a problem in the bedroom."

            "Guess again, pal." Her eyes flashed green fire. "Your ability couldn't begin to match your ego."

            "I wasn't bragging. I was paying tribute to your ability to excite a man – and I'm certainly not immune. When I said I didn't anticipate any trouble, I meant I would try to make the experience as memorable for you as it would be for me."

            "How can it be when we don't even like each other?"

            He smiled derisively. "I don't think that's a requirement for sex." His smile died. "Unfortunately, I always expected to marry for love, as I'm sure you did, too. But I guess I'm willing to make the best of it if you are."

            Lily's anger was replaced by compassion. "You never know what will happen in life," she said vaguely, because it was the only comfort she could offer him.

            "That's true," he answered tonelessly. "Well… I just came to give you the ring."

            "Thank you. I'll wear it at the ceremony."

            He hesitated. "Would you like me to put it on your finger? I guess that's traditional."

            Lily had decidedly mixed feelings as she held out her left hand. She'd always looked forward to falling in love and becoming engaged. But when that happy day finally came, it was apt to be an anticlimax. The ring would pale in comparison with this one, and James would be a haunting memory. She gazed up at him, unable to keep from envying Gabrielle, as he slipped the ring on her finger.

His hand tightened on hers as he gazed at her parted lips. "This is also traditional," he murmured, lowering his head.

            His kiss was tentative at first, and Lily's response was the same. She knew she was skating on thin ice. In spite of insurmountable problems on both sides, neither of them was indifferent to the other.

            But when his mouth lingered on hers, she swayed toward him. His arms closed around her, moulding her to his body. In an instant the chemistry between them ignited, making all their differences seem minor. She felt weightless in his embrace, as if she were actually part of him.

            Lily never knew what might have happened if Ariadne hadn't knocked at the door. Later she was grateful, but not at the time.

            Ariadne stuck her head inside, calling out, "I know you're not ready yet but Henri told me to come downstairs early, so I – Oops! Sorry."

            James released Lily and turned to Ariadne with a smile. "It's all right. We're almost legal." He gazed into Lily's eyes and said softly, "I'll see you soon."

            When he'd left the room, Ariadne said, "Not that I blame you, but aren't you throwing yourself into your role a little too enthusiastically?"

            Lily was shaken by the intensity of her response, but she pretended to dismiss the incident. "James and I were merely discussing our – I mean, his future relationship with Gabrielle."

            "That was no discussion I walked in on. Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

            "If I did, would I be here now?" Lily sighed.

            "This was supposed to be a lot of fun. But not if you fall in love with the guy. I don't want you to get hurt, Lily."

            "I'm not in love with James. I know that would be disastrous. I'll admit I'm physically attracted to him, but it's nothing I can't handle."

            "Just don't try to test your willpower. The guy is awesomely sexy."

            "First you tell me to stay away from him and then you tell me how gorgeous he is," Lily exclaimed impatiently.

            "There was never any doubt about that. I'm simply advising you to look, but don't touch." Ariadne started for the door. "I'll see you after the ceremony."

You like? Next chapter we have the engagement announcement, and a foot massage…

Crinkle chips and cheese!